Access Board Meetings Online: Community members can stay informed by watching every board meeting on our YouTube channel, MCPASD TV. In the recap below, we have provided timestamps for the various sections of the meeting. These will help you follow along and jump directly to the parts of the video that interest you the most.
:13 - Honorees in Attendance from Middleton High School Band and Color Guard
The Board of Education meeting began with a celebration of the Middleton High School Marching Band and Color Guard for their outstanding achievements this season.
The Board recognized them for earning second place in Class AAAA at the Wisconsin School Music Association Marching Band State Championships onOct. 18 at UW–Whitewater. The band and color guard, which include more than 200 students, also received three of four caption awards:
• Best Color Guard for the fourth consecutive year
• Best Musical Presentation for the second consecutive year
• Best Percussion for the first time in school history
Their journey to state included first place finishes at the Waukesha North Bandfest at Carroll University, the Stoughton Marching Invitational, and the Sauk Prairie Marching Invite.
This year’s show, titled “Cleared for Takeoff,” featured music by U2, M83, George Gershwin, and Christopher Tin, along with a full-sized airplane prop. The band is led by directors Eric Rothaker, Doug Brown, and Michael Ver Voort, with color guard coaches Kasey Graff and Madeline Holman, and percussion coaches Patrick Coughlin, Sebastiaan de Waart, Hayli Lavallee, Tanner Day, and Charlie Fenske. A dedicated team of staff and volunteers including Darlayne Coughlin, Kellie Werth, Noah Brockway, and Alaina Riley also support the program.
This season’s student drum majors were Haley Jodlowski, Asha Chakravartula, and Gavin Wiese.
6:18 - Donation Presentation to District Safety and Security
The Board also accepted a generous and deeply meaningful donation of $1,000 from Dr. Nancy Johnson-Cramer, given in loving memory of her late husband, Gregg “Doc” Cramer.
Doc Cramer was a beloved member of the MCPASD family who served the district for 30 years. His dedication to students and staff never wavered. Even after decades of service, he continued to teach as a substitute until his passing in 2024. His kindness, commitment, and daily presence reflected the very best of our community.
Dr. Johnson-Cramer’s connection to MCPASD is equally special. She worked as an occupational therapist in the District during the 1980s before continuing her career in Madison. Together, Doc and Nancy raised three children who attended and graduated from MCPASD schools, leaving a lasting legacy of service and love for public education.
This donation is significant not only because of what it honors, but also because of how it was raised. Dr. Johnson-Cramer and Ukulele and Luau groups from across Dane County held joyful community events to raise funds for the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation, with the goal of creating a lasting local impact.
The $1,000 gift will be used to support safety and wellness initiatives across MCPASD schools, including safety education, student wellness resources, and student organizations that promote awareness and wellbeing.
On behalf of the Board of Education, District leaders, and the students who will benefit from this gift, the Board extended its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Johnson-Cramer. Her generosity and compassion continue the legacy of kindness and dedication that Doc Cramer shared with our community for so many years.
10:00 - During the Correspondence and Board Communications portion of the meeting, several Board members encouraged the community to look out for one another and support local families in need during this time.
The District is proud to partner with WayForward Resources to help address food insecurity in our community. Donation bins have been placed at all MCPASD schools for students, staff, and families to contribute nonperishable items.
Board members also brought donations to support this important cause.
14:00 - Superintendents Report
In her Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Dana Monogue shared several District updates and celebrations.
Dr. Monogue highlighted a community partnership between the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District, the City of Middleton, and the Middleton Chamber of Commerce to help fight food insecurity. Together, these partners are encouraging donations to WayForward Resources, the local food pantry serving families across the community. The District has been sharing information about this collective effort through its social media platforms and expressed gratitude to everyone who has contributed or plans to support this important cause.
Dr. Monogue also congratulated the Middleton Boys Volleyball Team for earning their fourth consecutive state tournament appearance. She wished the players and coaches the best of luck as they represent the District at the state competition.
16:12 - Good Neighbor Festival Review and Future Planning
The Good Neighbor Festival organizers provided a review of the 2025 event and presented options for future use of District grounds.
The 2025 festival was considered highly successful, with strong attendance and positive feedback about hosting it on the high school grounds. While there had initially been concern that the space might feel small, attendees were impressed with how well the layout flowed and how effectively the site accommodated festival activities. Attendance numbers were among the best in recent years, and organizers shared that moving the event to the high school grounds only enhanced the experience.
The organizers also acknowledged that a few nearby residents expressed concerns about noise. In response, the festival team proactively relocated several families to a nearby hotel during the event, demonstrating their commitment to being good neighbors.
Organizers extended special thanks to Dale Rhodes, Brian Goucher, and Jerrud Rossing for their support and partnership. The festival committee has requested to use the high school grounds again for next year’s event. The Board will consider and vote on this item at an upcoming meeting.
26:10 - Summer School Report
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Jan Chynoweth, Summer School and Community Outreach Coordinator Amy Schernecker, Summer Academy Principal Brandon Tewalt, and Summer School Principal Jennifer Zart provided an update on the 2025 Summer Session, which includes both the Summer Academy (grades 1–8) and Summer School (grades 9–12+) programs.
The Summer Session leadership team began meeting in January 2025, with participation from multiple District departments to ensure a coordinated and high-quality experience for students and families. Departments involved included Building and Grounds, Financial Services, Technology, Nutrition, Health Services, Registration, Employee Services, and Teaching and Learning.
Summer Academy (Grades 1–8)
The Summer Academy program, held at Kromrey Middle School, ran for six weeks from June 23 to Aug. 28, Monday through Thursday, from 8:10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Enrollment: 179 elementary students and 149 middle school students
Focus: Literacy and math development, with opportunities for enrichment and field trips
Curriculum: Implemented the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) reading curriculum, piloted the SIPPS intervention program, and used AIMsWeb for progress monitoring
Collaborations: Madison Reading Project, Middleton Public Library, and AmeriCorps Senior Program
Budget: $266,963.52 allocated; $271,825.75 spent
Students Astria and Lee shared their experiences participating in the 2025 Summer Academy.
Astria spoke about her time in the middle-level program, noting that her favorite part was being able to choose her own classes. She said the experience made her feel like she belonged and that it introduced her to a new hobby, crochet.
Lee, representing the elementary level, said his favorite parts of Summer Academy were math and recess.
Summer School (Grades 9–12+)
The Summer School program was held at Middleton High School and operated from June 23 to Aug.28, Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:35 a.m.
Enrollment: 153 students in core academic courses
Offerings: Expanded to include both credit recovery and initial credit courses, such as Financial Literacy, Health and Wellness, a hybrid Work Experience course, and an in-person ESL course titled Connections and Community
Enrichment Opportunities: Programs included Bridge to Success (for incoming freshmen), Strength and Conditioning (grades 7–12), Pre-Advanced Placement, and Marching Band
Collaborations: Middleton Public Library, Madison College, CEOs of Tomorrow, Middleton Police Department, The Bruce Company, and Lupe’s Taqueria
Budget: $125,990.40 allocated; $106,308.69 spent
Looking Ahead to 2026
Planning is already underway for the 2026 Summer Session. The team aims to expand programming at both sites, increase student participation, and strengthen curriculum with evidence-based reading practices. Additional enrichment and elective opportunities will also be explored.
To improve hiring efficiency, the District may host a dedicated Summer Session hiring event. Beginning in 2026, registration for all Summer Session programs will move to Infinite Campus to create a more streamlined and accessible enrollment process.
The District extends its appreciation to all staff and community partners for their dedication to providing engaging and meaningful summer learning experiences for MCPASD students.
53:40 - Board Policy Revisions
The Policy Committee reviewed proposed updates to two Board policies: Board Member Salaries and Compensation and Board Policy Development, Review, and Adoption Procedure.
The Board will review these policies and vote on their approval at the next Board meeting.
55:55 - Board Member Participation in Graduation
Board members discussed potential participation in the graduation ceremony scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2026. Additional information will be shared with the Board in the coming months, and a final decision will be made at a later date.
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